Search form

Search

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Your Dirty Little War

by

Abby Zimet

Oh boy. Saw John Prine last week. He's a wonder, a master, a mensch who writes smart, wry, mournful, heart-stabbingly true songs about life and love and its vital fragments: the "spaces between Donald and whatever he said," the lover who "still laughs with me, but she waits just a second too long," the bathtub moment "naked as the eyes of a clown," the way "Broken hearts and dirty windows/ Make life difficult to see/ That's why last night and this morning/ Always look the same to me." Prine is 64, unlovely, raspy-voiced from time and the cancer he beat some years back. But his fierce and tender two-hour-plus set stirred the heart. Lots of fine old gems: Sam Stone, Souvenirs, Donald and Lydia, Angel from Montgomery. And, pointedly, his anti-war mantra, Flag Decal. "I wrote it in '68," he said dryly. "I thought it would be relevant for about a week." Alas, it wasn't. He's on tour. Go.

FRIENDS: Help Us Fight

Independent journalism has become the last firewall against government and corporate lies. Yet, with frightening regularity, independent media sources are losing funding, closing down or being blacked out by Google and Facebook. Never before has independent media been more endangered. If you believe in Common Dreams, if you believe in people-powered independent media, please support us now and help us fight—with truths—against the lies that would smother our democracy. Please help keep Common Dreams alive and growing. Thank you. -- Craig Brown, Co-founder

Order stickers here...

Further

While waiting alongside other administration officials and lawmakers before a scheduled event at the White House on Thursday morning, a live video stream captured what appeared to be billionaire capitalist and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross scraping something from the corner of his eye and then putting it in his mouth. Seemed like an eye booger, but impossible to know for sure. Pretty sure U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross just ate an eye booger on national television. No big deal, but...

Common Dreams brings you the news that matters.

Sign up for Newsletter

Connect With Us

Support Our Spring Fundraising Drive

Can We Count on Your Help Today?

Common Dreams is a small nonprofit with a big mission. Every day of the week, we publish the most important breaking news & views for the progressive community. To remain an independent news source, we do not advertise, sell subscriptions or accept corporate contributions. Instead, we rely on readers like you, to provide the "people power" that fuels our work. Please help keep Common Dreams alive by making a contribution to our Spring fundraising drive. Thank you. - Craig Brown, Co-founder